Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(18)

It didn’t take Will half an hour to clear out his desk and set up the one in the room next to David. He grabbed a cup of coffee and hurried to the briefing room in case his boss had returned.

Even though the room was empty, Will took a seat at the table. Judging by all the folders spread on the table, David had been here. If it weren’t for this thing with Jimmy, he’d be pinching himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He’d slept little all night, and what should have been an exciting day now took second place. “I didn’t kill Stephanie.”

Jimmy’s words echoed even now through his mind. If Walter Simmons hadn’t confirmed the letter, Will didn’t know if he would have believed his cousin. His whole body itched to get to Riverbend to talk to Jimmy. He hoped David would be receptive to looking into the case.

The door opened, and Reggie Lane said, “Brad said I’d find you here. He told me about the breakin at his sister’s. He said Treece was okay. Do you think she’ll be safe there?”

“Brad’s contacting someone today about a security system, so she should be. Why don’t you call her?”

A dark blush crawled up Reggie’s face as he stepped into the room and closed the door. “She won’t take my calls.”

“Sorry, man.” A month ago, Treece and Reggie had been on track to get married, and Will didn’t know what had happened to derail everything. “What happened with you two, anyway?”

He ducked his head. “I gave her an ultimatum. Quit her job when we get married.”

Will sucked air through his teeth. “I thought you knew better than to ever give a woman that kind of ultimatum.”

“I do.” Reggie scrubbed his jaw. “It just came out of my mouth right after Andi got herself roughed up interviewing that dope dealer. Treece was in full mother-hen mode. Those two are tight. Treece thinks she has to watch over Andi.”

Will knew the feeling. “I hope you two work this out.”

“Me too. I’m sending her flowers again this afternoon with another apology. But as long as she thinks she has to look after Andi, we’ll have trouble. If only there was someone else watching Andi’s back, Treece might listen to me.” Reggie’s eyes narrowed. “You’re sweet on her—why don’t you do it?”

Will held up his hand. “No way. That would be a full-time job.” Heat burned his neck. “And I’m not sweet on her.”

“You’re lying, man. I’ve seen the way you look when she stops by to see Brad. And now—your face is beet red.”

Will laughed out loud. “Whatever, man. Brad’s my best friend, and you know my history with women. Dating his sister would be a disaster, especially when we broke up—it always happens. Besides, it’d take someone a whole lot stronger than I am to convince her to quit sticking her neck out.”

The door opened again, and David stepped inside. “Oh good, you’re here. Morning, Reggie.”

“Morning, sir. I’m just leaving,” Reggie said. He stopped at the door. “Think about what I said.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” Will called after Reggie and then turned his attention to the lieutenant as he sat at the table and snapped open his briefcase. Time to focus.

“We won’t meet here regularly,” David said, “only when we need more room to work on a case, and you can choose your first one from the stacks of folders in the storage room. Unfortunately, you have plenty to choose from.”

“Which ones are top priority?”

“All of them. Families want answers, and so do we. It’s one reason I chose you. That and because of your extraordinary ability to sort out facts and get answers.”

Will’s face grew hot under the praise. “Thank you,” he mumbled.

“That’s why I’m not going to tell you how to investigate your case. Once you choose a case, I do suggest that you take a look at the original investigating officer.” David leaned back in his chair. “We’ve all known investigators who don’t follow up on clues like they should.”

“Lazy ones,” Will said. He’d known a few of the detectives the lieutenant referred to.

“That’s about it for orientation. Any questions?” David looked expectantly at him.

“Sir, what if a case isn’t officially a cold case?”

“Sir? I thought we covered that.”

“Sorry—it’ll take awhile.”

David nodded. “Now, what were you asking?”

Will explained about Lacey Wilson’s death and the call from Jimmy and how she was going to visit his cousin at Riverbend. “Like I said earlier, the Wilson case isn’t really mine, and my cousin’s case isn’t officially a cold case, but if it’s true he didn’t kill Stephanie Hollister, there’s not much time to find the person who did. His execution date is in four days.”

David rubbed his jaw. “Actually, that’s the case I wanted to discuss with you. Your aunt came to see me right after you left earlier. She—”

“Excuse me for interrupting, but did you say my aunt came to see you?” Aunt Mae never mentioned stopping in to see David when she called while he was getting coffee. Maybe because she’d been so busy telling him his mother was back in town and wanted to see him. That wasn’t happening. “What did she want?”